GAP Students at Ellesmere

Ellesmere College has a long tradition in accepting Gap Tutors to the school, starting in 1989. Originally it was with St Kentigern College in Auckland New Zealand - a boys' school. We still accept one student from there. Once Ellesmere went fully co-ed we accepted girls from Australia - our contacts there Pymble Ladies' College in Sydney and Canberra Girls Grammar.

As part of the agreement we also send Ellesmere College pupils there.

The duties of the Gap tutors are quite diverse. The tutors predominantly work within the Games Department, coaching sports teams etc, but they also work as classroom assistants, within the boarding houses and at Lower School.

Over the years they have been a valuable asset and have provided much support and encouragement to the teaching staff.

Ellesmere College would like to introduce to you our new Gap Tutors. They are Nicole Pace, 18 years old from Canberra, Australia, Mark Roberts, 18 years old from Auckland, New Zealand and Claire Butler is 17 years old, from Sydney, Australia.

Nicole enjoys all forms of sport as well as travelling and history, and will be doing a Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Arts at the University of New South Wales in 2003. She says, “My main objective in becoming a Gap Tutor was to spend a year away from home in a completely different environment. All the people I have met so far and all the duties that I have undertaken have already exceeded my expectations. I couldn't have asked to be placed in a nicer and more supportive school”

Mark again likes sports especially water-sports, but has also been learning to fly - very useful as his ultimate goal is to become a Helicopter Pilot, and is thinking of joining the Royal New Zealand or Australian Airforce to help to achieve this. He says on becoming a Gap Student “This was something which I was always going to d, have a year out from school to meet new people, become more independent and generally see what the world has to offer. So far, my time at Ellesmere College has been great - the people are very friendly and make the initial stages of arriving in a new country and being away from family a lot easier”

Claire also likes sports but she has also done a bit of acting. On her return to Australia at the end of the year she will go to university to do Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Arts in International Relations. Claire has enjoyed her time so far and is “having a great time, enjoying being at a very different school to my school in Sydney. The people are extremely friendly. I am finding England to be all that I expected it to be, and already have begun to see some of the country”.

6th February 2002  Back to News